Saudi Arabia is pulling out all the stops for the 2034 World Cup.
Much like Qatar in 2022, a massive nationwide building program will create the necessary infrastructure from the ground up.
The tournament will be held across 15 stadiums, with eight being built from scratch, three already in progress and four current venues being renovated.
King Salman International Stadium will be the pick of the bunch.
With around 92,000 seats, it will be one of the world’s biggest football stadiums, albeit considerably smaller than the one Morocco hopes will host the 2030 final.
The project is being built north of Riyadh City with an estimated completion date of 2029.
A royal box will hold 150 guests, with 120 hospitality suites, three hundred VIP seats, and two thousand premium spaces to allow FIFA to host plenty of dignitaries — and likely streamers.
Sustainable cooling systems will work on the seats and the ground, with screens and indoor gardens helping to keep it cool.
The tournament will likely take place in winter — and may even be in 2035 — when temperatures should be comfortable enough for fans to enjoy a rooftop walking path overlooking King Abdulaziz Park.
Saudi Arabia is keen to ensure the legacy of the tournament benefits future generations and King Salman International Stadium will be surrounded by training pitches, fan zones, an Olympic swimming pool and athletics track, as well as facilities for racket sports and basketball.
A sports trail over five miles long will connect the stadium and nearby park.
All of this comes at a price.
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Along with the stadiums, the country needed to build 65,000 new hotel rooms to meet FIFA’s expectations.
SNB Capital estimated the total cost of hosting the tournament at $26 billion.
The hope is that the World Cup will be the culmination of an ambitious repositioning that began in 2019 when the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund launched a project called Vision 2030, hoping to turn it into a sport and entertainment hub.
By 2030, the sector is expected to provide $16.5 billion in benefits, accounting for 1.5 per cent of the national GDP, and create 100,000 jobs.
Saudi citizens have seen participation rates in physical activities increase dramatically with 50 per cent of the population now exercising regularly, up from 13 per cent in 2015.
Female participation has also increased by 400 per cent since 2015.
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Esports and digital gaming form another prong of the project with $38 billion allocated.
The Kingdom has already hosted the Esports World Cup.
Can 2034 World Cup be moved?
A report from American outlet Politico has revealed an ‘unprecedented scheduling dilemma.’
The Qatar World Cup was held from November 20 to December 18, which will clash with Ramadan in 2034.
Earlier in the year, the Winter Olympics is slated for January and February and March sees around two million pilgrims head to Mecca for Hajj.
Politico suggests that between Christmas 2034 and Hajj — set for mid-February in 2035 — could be the most logical window, which could be too short to fit in an expanded tournament with FIFA keen on 48 or even 64 teams.
